What's going around?: Week long virus hitting the Lowcountry

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - If you're feeling a little under the weather, you're not the only one.

Walk-in clinics across the Lowcountry are seeing higher numbers of people coming through their doors over the last few weeks.

Doctors said they're seeing a lot of respiratory infections, which is common for this time of year.

"The hardest thing I think for people to get used to is often times these coughs last for three weeks," said Dr. Charles Geer, MD, at Roper St. Francis. "They go 'oh my gosh what is happening to me? I'm still coughing.'"

Dr. Geer said that cough will eventually make its way out of your system.

He advises that you continue with healthy, clean habits before making a trip to the doctors.

"We like to give our own healing abilities a little while before we move in with antibiotics or other things," Dr. Geer said.

Also going around, a pesky virus that may have you feeling down for a longer period of time.

"Primarily nasal congestion, pressure, drainage, scratchy throat," said Dr. Steven Bull, MD, at Health First.

Dr. Bull is going on day 11 of his bout with a virus.

"By day three, day four you feel like it's moving into your chest, and you'll be coughing as well," he said. "[I] felt kind of crummy the first couple of days, but after that it was 'I don't feel bad, I just wish symptoms to go away.'"

Dr. Bull said this kind of virus is a little more aggressive, and the difference is it lasts a bit longer than your typical three to four day bug.

As for his view on treatment, "Decongestants, expectorants, cough suppressants, the old time remedies of 'tincture of time'," he said. "[Also] salt water gargle, nasal saline, antibiotics probably have no role."

Doctors say use hand sanitizer, and make sure you're getting plenty of rest… that virus should be gone in due time.

Both doctors are surprised they haven't seen many flu cases over the past few weeks.

They continue to urge you though to get the vaccine if you plan on traveling for the holidays.

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